Best Book-Only Bits Bracket: Vote for Your Favorites the Movies Missed!

by · March 1, 2024

We’ve all said it or heard it said at some point: “The books were better.” While we love the Harry Potter films, they just couldn’t fit in every juicy tidbit from the novels. With a potential television series on the horizon, we can’t help but fantasize about what missing pieces we might eventually get to see onscreen. There are so many beloved characters, moments, and details that only exist on the page and in our minds. For MuggleNet’s March Madness this year, it’s up to you to choose the most egregious exclusion, the most masterful morsel, the part that keeps you going back to the books again and again even after numerous movie marathons.

MuggleNet staff members have selected 64 of our favorite things that can only be found in the Harry Potter books and organized them into four divisions: Character[ization]s, Subplots and Backstories, Unseen Scenes, and Not Quite Right. Vote for the ones that make your blood boil every time you think about how the films dared to skip or change them, the ones that bring joy to your heart no matter how many times you read them, the ones that make Harry Potter so special to you.

 

 

Cast your votes in each round to determine the overall Best Book-Only Bit:

  • Round 1: March 1–8
  • Round 2: March 9–16
  • Round 3: March 17–22
  • Round 4: March 23–26
  • Semi-finals: March 27–29
  • Finals: March 30–31 

 

Winner

 

Best Book Bits Winner Square

 

Young Tom Riddle at the orphanage in the film of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince just wasn’t enough – readers wanted to see Voldemort’s full origin story covered in “The House of Gaunt” and “Lord Voldemort’s Request,” from Bob Ogden’s visit to the house where his mother (Merope), uncle (Morfin), and grandfather (Marvolo) lived to his time working at Borgin and Burkes and seeking at job at Hogwarts. Only book fans know Hepzibah Smith and Hokey the house-elf and witnessed Voldemort applying for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position that could suspiciously never be filled for more than a year after his rejection. In second place was St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, where the trio run into Neville visiting his parents and reunite with Gilderoy Lockhart.

Laurie Beckoff

My Harry Potter journey began in 2000 when I was six and continued through a bachelor's thesis and master's dissertation on medievalism in the series. I'm a Gryffindor from New York City with a passion for theatre, fantasy, Arthurian legend, and science fiction.